Red Flag Warning

We want to bring your attention to an important matter affecting our city and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Portland, indicating critical fire risks and weather conditions.

What does a Red Flag Warning mean? It indicates that a combination of specific weather conditions, such as high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, can greatly increase the risk of wildfires. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.

To prioritize the health and safety of all community members, the July meeting scheduled for tonight has been canceled. If you notice an uncontrolled fire or witness any suspicious fire-related activity, please call emergency dispatch right away by dialing 9-1-1. Reporting promptly can help prevent the situation from escalating.

Please take a moment to check on your neighbors, especially those who might be more vulnerable and lack cooling equipment. The city have set up a misting and hydration station outside the Mt. Scott Community Center, located on SE 72nd Ave and Harold. We encourage you to stay hydrated and visit the station if you are nearby.

Multnomah County has compiled a comprehensive guide on various resources and services available to residents during extreme heat events. We recommend reviewing this guide to familiarize yourself with the support options provided by the county. You can find the guide at the following link: https://www.multco.us/help-when-its-hot

Stay safe and stay connected.

Mayor Wheeler to Propose Ordinance Prohibiting Consumption of Controlled Substances in Public Spaces 

The Mayor’s proposed ordinance will amend Portland city code restrictions on illegal drug use on streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way

Next Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Mayor Ted Wheeler will bring the attached ordinance to Portland City Council that will propose updates to Portland’s Public Order and Policy Code. These changes will add consumption of a controlled substance to the City ordinance which already prohibits public consumption of alcohol.  

Measure 110, which was approved by Oregon voters in November 2020, made Oregon the first state to decriminalize the personal possession of controlled substances. While Measure 110 decriminalizes the possession of controlled substances, this City ordinance prohibits the consumption of these substances on public property. 

Statement from Mayor Ted Wheeler: 

“This ordinance would amend our public consumption of alcohol ordinance to include controlled substances and outline clear and familiar expectations. This is a commonsense approach. We must make it clear that people cannot use drugs in public spaces. I appreciate that this ordinance has support from the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, and it will take all of us working together to make the kind of systemic change our city needs.” 

As written in the ordinance, those convicted of violating the ordinance may receive a fine up to $500 or up to six months jail time as determined by the courts. The City—and our regional public safety partners—support alternatives to criminal punishment whenever practical when enforcing City Code. 

Mayor Wheeler and the Portland City Council will discuss this ordinance at next week’s Council session. In the interim, we will not provide interviews on this subject. Please direct follow up questions to: WheelerMediaRequests@portlandoregon.gov and we will do our best to respond in a timely manner. 

Please see the following video statement from Mayor Ted Wheeler:  

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1.       Does this criminalize drugs in Portland? 

The amended city code that will come before City Council next week prohibits the consumption of controlled substances (including dangerous drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and meth) on public property, streets, sidewalks and public rights-of-way.  

This amendment works in-tandem with current city code that prohibits the open consumption of alcohol on streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way. Currently, it is unlawful under the city code (except for sidewalk cafes or events with permits) to drink alcohol on any street, sidewalk, or public right-of-way. This ordinance seeks to prohibit the consumption of controlled substances in a similar manner, by making it illegal to consume controlled substance on public property, streets, sidewalks or the public right-of-way. 

2.       Define ‘consumption?’ 

The ordinance definition of “consume” means to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body. 

3.       I assumed using drugs in public was already illegal? 

State and federal laws generally regulate the possession, delivery, and manufacture of controlled substances, and state law already prohibits the consumption of cannabis in a public place.  This ordinance will prohibit the consumption of controlled substances like fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and meth on public property in Portland.  The city code for some time has prohibited drinking alcohol on streets, sidewalks and public rights of way, and this ordinance expands that prohibition on consumption to controlled substances to address the more recent activity of open use of controlled substances on public property. 

4.       Should I call 911 to report someone consuming a controlled substance in public spaces? 

No.  Please do not call 911 to report a person consuming drugs in public unless there is an immediate life or safety concern.  Community members can call 311 for assistance with non-emergency reporting.  Police will be working to utilize current resources to begin enforcement of this ordinance as call volume permits.  It will take time and collaboration with our safety partners at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office to address how police are able to intervene, and we ask for patience and support as this collaboration continues.     

5.       Does this apply to private property? 

This is a City ordinance that applies only to public property, streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way.  

6.       Why are you bringing this ordinance to City Council now? 

Portland’s growing substance abuse problems have exploded to deadly and disastrous proportions, and the open use of controlled substances on public property contributes to this problem. This year alone, the Portland Police Bureau has already initiated over 100 suspected overdose death investigations. This is an issue that erodes not only public health, but also public safety.  

7.       Does this override Measure 110? 

No. On November 3, 2020, Oregon voters passed Measure 110, making Oregon the first state to decriminalize the personal possession of controlled substances. For possession of smaller amounts of controlled substances, Measure 110 reduces the penalty from the criminal misdemeanor level to a new, Class E violation (a fine).  

While Measure 110 decriminalizes the possession of controlled substances, this City ordinance prohibits the consumption of those controlled substances on public property.  Similarly, a person can lawfully possess alcohol, but City Code also currently prohibits the consumption of alcohol on streets, sidewalks, and public rights of way without a permit. 

8.       What if somebody does not comply with this law change? 

The City supports alternatives to criminal punishment whenever practical when enforcing City Code. As written in the ordinance, those convicted of violating the ordinance may receive a fine up to $500 or up to six months jail time as determined by the courts.  

9.       What about prescription drugs? 

This ordinance does not apply to prescription drugs if prescribed to the person using them. 

10.   Will someone get a citation if they are experiencing an overdose?  

The safety and well-being of our community is the top priority for our public safety partners. If an individual is experiencing an overdose, the top concern would be to connect that person with available resources to stabilize their health. Our public safety partners are trained to handle and support those experiencing overdoses to help reverse the reaction and can administer treatments like Narcan.  

11.   Do you have enough police to enforce these changes? 

Portland Police will continue to dedicate resources to the highest risk issues facing our city while educating the at-risk community of the amendment to city code and the consequences of continued use of controlled substances in public spaces. As resources and education grow police can use the new code to address high risk violations. 

Our public safety partners at the Portland Police Bureau and the District Attorney’s office support this ordinance change and are coordinated in our approach to enforcement. While Measure 110 may limit the way the Portland Police Bureau have been able to address and enforce drug possession in public spaces, the changes outlined by this ordinance provides authority to make our city safer. 

Mayor Wheeler committed to hiring 300 new Police Bureau personnel over three years: 200 sworn officers and 100 public safety specialists. Between January 2022 and April 2023, PPB has hired over 200 new staff, including over 100 sworn officers, 26 PS3s, and dozens of professional staff, including background investigators, records staff, and analysts. PPB has also received over 1,800 police officer applications in that same time period. We look forward to continuing this strong recruiting and hiring trend and ask for the community’s patience and support as we restaff. 

12.   Is the City investing in behavioral health treatment? 

Yes. The City of Portland works very closely with Multnomah County (and state leadership) on homelessness, mental/behavioral health, and addiction.  Mayor Wheeler’s office serves on the Behavioral Health Emergency Coordination Network (BHECN) executive committee, which is working to open and expand resources focused on sobering, detox and mental/behavioral health services. The City of Portland is committing $1.9 million in ongoing funding to the BHECN project and invests millions of dollars with Central City Concern (CCC) on programming including behavioral health outreach. Most recently, City Council provided a $335,000 grant to Unity Center’s Psychiatric Hospital to open 9 new sobering beds in partnership with Multnomah County, Care Oregon and Legacy. 

Counties play a lead role in providing behavioral health services in Oregon with support and ongoing partnership from the cites. As additional local resources are needed for behavioral health services, cites across Oregon have been stepping in to create new and complementary services alongside the work of the counties. The City of Portland funds and administers the following behavioral health related programming within city boundaries in Multnomah County. 

CITY OF PORTLAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RELATED PROGRAMS  

This work is interconnected and multi-faceted, as each individual has unique challenges and needs. We are also looking to our regional partners, with ample funding and underspent resources, to get more services online as quickly as possible and will do all we can to support and expand those efforts. 

13.   Does Mayor Wheeler want to repeal Measure 110? 

While Mayor Wheeler supports the intention behind Measure 110, the much-needed state funds to create new substance abuse treatment resources have struggled to come online. He’s grateful to leaders across the State of Oregon that have advocated for funding and resources to be dispersed to cities more quickly as Portland and cities across the state navigate the challenging impacts that Measure 110 has imposed.  

Lower SE Rising Online Open House

Discussion Draft Available Now

Join project staff from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) and Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to learn more about the Lower SE Rising Area Plan’s draft proposals and give us your input during this virtual online open house.


May 24, 2023 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Available Online

Register online.

Connection Instructions

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

Event details

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) and Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) have released the Discussion Draft of the Lower Southeast Rising Area Plan. This draft plan proposes zoning changes that will help expand opportunities for neighborhood businesses and housing choices, along with transportation improvements, to make it easier for residents and others to meet daily needs nearby and help address housing affordability.

In this “online open house” event, you’ll have the opportunity to hear more about these draft proposals from project staff, ask questions, and give us your input to help refine the plan. You are also invited to engage with this project through a self-guided online open house and share your feedback through a survey.

Upcoming Lower SE Rising Events

Lower SE Rising at Mt. Scott Community Center

Learn about the draft plan and how to give your feedback

May 25, 2023 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Community Event


Lower SE Rising at Lents International Farmers Market

Learn about the draft plan and how to give your feedback

June 4, 2023 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Community Event


Lower SE Rising at Woodstock Farmers Market

Learn about the draft plan and how to give your feedback

June 18, 2023 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Community Event

Keep the Lights on at Parks

Take Action and Keep the Lights on at Parks

Lighting at Mt Scott Park is an essential component of the neighborhood safety pilot project.

The Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association joined with neighborhood associations and community partners to urge the city to keep lights on at parks. The city had planned to take out 243 park lights without funding or a clear plan to replace them. Park lighting is an essential component of our neighborhood’s safety pilot project. After significant public comment, Portland Parks & Recreation and Commissioner Dan Ryan, who oversees the parks bureau, produced a new plan to balance safety and stagger replacement.

The Executive Director of SE Uplift says, “Commissioner Ryan will present an emergency ordinance on April 5 to City Council that will allow the Parks Bureau to purchase all replacement light poles simultaneously.” We need your help to ensure that all parks remain lit! You can support this effort by providing testimony or submitting email comments using the link provided below.


Electronics Recycling Event Tomorrow

  • When: Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Where: Brentwood-Darlington Community Center (7211 SE 62nd Ave)

Gather any unused technology items you have at home and take them to the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center tomorrow. Our friends at Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association are organizing an electronics recycling and sustainability event on April 1st from 9:30am-12:30pm.

Green Century Recycling will be present to collect accepted electronics, and Bikes for Humanity will host a workshop on bike maintenance. There will also be seed and plant swaps along with an explanation of how local recycling works in Portland. Check the link for suggested donations, a list of accepted items and future event details.

Do you have an item to dispose of that is not on the list? We are excited to announce that the Arleta neighborhood will host a large materials waste collection event in June. Stay tuned for event details next month.


The Portland Engagement Project

Most Portlanders are not engaged with city government. The Portland Engagement Project is your chance to let the city know how to improve its communication with you. Pregame, a Portland based consultant group, and the Office of Community & Civic Life at the City of Portland are actively listening for your ideas. Your feedback will be used to create a more responsive and equitable system for civic engagement. The last major engagement design was 50 years ago.

There are multiple ways to participate:

  • Join a Listening Session
  • Take the Online Survey
  • Attend the April meeting of Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association

Building a Better 82nd Ave

Image of SE 82nd Ave north of Stark St dated 10-29-32. Photo courtesy of the City Archives at the City of Portland.

Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Building a Better 82nd Project includes near-term critical fixes and a plan for improvements to 82nd Avenue. The project includes immediate safety measures for all road users and signal improvements. Investments to provide shade, better access for people using the corridor and enhancements to transit service are planned.

You can read the draft design concept and participate in the online business access survey by April 15, 2023. If you visit businesses on 82nd Ave or would like to, this survey is for you! Questions about the project? Contact the 82nd Avenue Project Team at 503-865-8282 or email 82ndavenue@portlandoregon.gov.

Top